Long, long ago, when I was in high school, there was this weird leftover ritual from a previous century - the Prom. Remnant of Coming Out, no doubt originally from being Presented to The Royal Court, and for the upper classes, entering young women into Society so they could make advantageous marriages for their families. Dwindled to a dance for students to spend a lot of money to accomplish nothing at all.
OK, maybe if I'd had a boyfriend... nope, even more pointless. I'd have preferred a quiet snog in the library.
My mother offered to fund it, find a dress, even make one (she was skilled enough, but I would have been granted little say.) Even if I had someone to go with, the whole idea seemed ridiculous. I attended HS dances, and never got asked to dance. How would spending more money improve this? I wasn't sad about it, I was relieved. A formal ritual? Had those in church, first communion and confirmation, hated both. Dressing up on a tight budget was not any kind of pleasure. I can't say how often I was told I'd regret it if I didn't go.
Know how many times I've regretted it? Compared to how many times I was SO glad I didn't give in to pressure?
About as many times as I've regretted having children vs. not.
Never, not once, not a bit.
Living life to a script is no life.
Swelling down profoundly. Will go in Monday to get the splint snugged up and otherwise adjusted. Typing with both hands. This is all feeling more hopeful. Still, woke up with my arm in deep pain and stiffness, so I told myself "Of course it hurts, I broke it, it's gonna hurt."
5 comments:
I don't know about you, but I find self-talk in times of pain or high-anxiety helps calm me down. At moments like that, I am aware of feelings I'd have when a child on being comforted by someone else, and I would think there really must be something to this inner child stuff, after all.
I will add, "Of course it's going to hurt" to my bag of comfort tools. (Almost wrote that it might even be better than chocolate...uh, no it won't, but it might help the chocolate work faster, last longer.)
Glad to hear of the improvements you are noticing; onward and upward!
"Of course it's gonna hurt. Have some chocolate."
I talk to my right hand a lot, these days.
Ah, dark brown medicine!..exceedingly efficacious!!
Reminds me of something from my Friday Funnies this week: amazing how older people can hurt themselves just sleeping.
"Living life to a script is no life." I couldn't agree more!
Hope the swelling continues to abate, dear Z!
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